A NEW electronic system is to be introduced at all Bracknell Forest’s libraries under a £500,000 investment scheme.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council is to plough £250,000 a year during the next two years into installing microchips in thousands of books at the borough’s nine libraries in Bracknell, Crowthorne, Sandhurst and Ascot.

People will be able to use their e+card to scan in their own library books instead of queuing for an assistant to do the job.

The new system is aimed at making it easier for people to use Bracknell’s library services and will also allow people to take out DVDs and CDs that will also be microchipped.

The e+card is already used by thousands of residents as an e-purse, allowing the cardholder to make payments for small bills without having to carry cash.

The new microchips will also tell a library user if they have any overdue books before taking out the money that may be on their e-purse in order to settle the bill.

By having the chips installed in all the books, it will also help warn library staff if a book is being taken out of the library without it being registered.

Councillor Alan Ward, executive member for education and libraries, said: “I think this is a good initiative and is aimed at taking the hassle out of people using the library services.

“If people have overdue books they currently have to take them to the counter and pay cash, but with this new system, the money will be taken out of their e-purse and they will get a receipt with how much money they have left on the card so they know where they are.

“The microchips will contain details of the book that will go back on the library’s system when they are returned so the library staff know if a book is available.”

Bracknell Forest’s e+card is also used as a leisure card, replacing membership cards at Bracknell Leisure Centre, Edgbarrow Sport Centre in Crowthorne, Sandhurst Sports Centre and The Downshire Golf Complex.

Pupils at the borough’s secondary schools can also use the card to pay for school meals and snacks, as a proof of age and as a discount card and for payment in shops in the town.